Chapter 5: Code

*Xin Lei*

I fell as a big ball of fur landed on me and knocked me off balance. It looked at me with its big black eyes. They felt so warm and affectionate. It licked me on my cheek, and I laughed as it tickled me.

I picked up the phone I dropped when I fell. I typed and pressed the speaker button.

"So, this is cocoa?" I asked as I looked at the German Shepherd dog in front of me, rubbing its head on my cheek and furiously wagging his tail.

"Yes. The dog with some shitty principles." The man said.

Cocoa was glaring at the man clearly offended by his remark. It softly howled. I laughed at the duo. 

"He is so cute! At least a lot cuter than you."

"Army or ex-army officers are not meant to be cute." He retorted.

I rolled my eyes. I got up and typed again. "So now Cocoa also wants you to help me just like how I want it too. Two against one. You lose."

He made a sour face like his opinion didn't matter at all.

"Is it a he or she?" I asked.

"He. Girls are troublesome."

Now it was my turn to make a sour face.

He said, "Well, why don't you tell me your interesting problem over a cup of coffee? I really need a cappuccino right now."

---

I took him to one of my other old, shabby apartments. If he could see, then he would have definitely refused to step inside. It was that dilapidated.

On the way here, I found Cocoa and the man's...wait a minute.

I still didn't know his name! And neither did he know mine.

I sighed. We talked so much, yet we didn't introduce ourselves.

So, where was I? Yeah, Cocoa and him. At first, I thought he would need my help with the directions. I tried to put my wording in the message as politely as possible.

But he said, "No need. Cocoa is a military dog and a guide. At first, he wasn't, but then he got the training for helping in navigation when I lost my sight."

Cocoa was following me and perfectly guiding him along the way. It didn't look like he cannot see at all! What an excellent rapport.

I opened the door to a small living room. I was embarrassed at its condition. I quickly typed. "Wait for a minute."

I cleaned up a bit and made space on the couch.

"Come in now."

He sat on the couch, and Cocoa swiftly jumped on it, sitting beside my savior.

"I will bring some coffee." I hoped I hadn't run out of it.

Five minutes later, I brought two cups of cappuccino and some snacks.

I typed. "Sorry, I don't have proper dog food."

He shrugged. "We have survived worse. And now I think we should really introduce ourselves."

I chuckled and typed. "Yes, Let me start. I'm Xin Lei. I'm a doctor and a triple MD in Anaesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, and Surgery."

"Too studious." He commented dryly, and I resisted the urge to twitch my mouth.

Then he continued. "I'm Bai Li, an ex-army officer of the Chinese army. Last rank, Major."

I typed. "You are quite young to retire."

"Thirty two years old, forcibly discharged, not retired."

It took me by surprise. He looked smart and intelligent.

"Why, if I may ask?"

"Apparently, we had quite a lot of differences in opinions in our relationship, so the army broke up with me."

"..."

I think making someone speechless was his innate ability.

"He is Cocoa, my military friend trained in combat and search, and oh yes, also in guiding and navigation."

Cocoa barked as he heard his name. He jumped from Bai Li's side, onto my lap and rubbed his head on my cheek. His soft, furry paws were too cute, but also lethal.

It was heaven. I played with him and asked.

"Why is his name Cocoa?"

"I was drinking Cocoa when we first met, so Cocoa."

I finally twitched my brow.

'Not so thoughtful.'

"So, tell me your interesting story."

I sighed. I typed. "Actually, even I don't have a clear idea about these people."

"What do you mean?"

I typed a long string of a message.

"Last week, I returned from New York that held a medical conference. But, when I came back home, I didn't see my father or brother anywhere, not at home or not in the office either. I called them, but they didn't pick up. They are still not. And then suddenly, some goons started chasing after me. I don't know what they want, but since then, I'm living in hiding. They have crashed my apartment from where I escaped today and also my office in the Lifeline hospital."

He asked, "Did you have any altercation with anybody in New York?"

"No. The conference went without any hiccups."

"Then this is something to do with your brother or father. What do they do?"

I typed. "My father, Xin Nianzu, is a defense lawyer, and my big brother, Xin Zhen, works in the Intelligence Service."

He slowly raised his right eyebrow.

"Quite the careers to make some bad enemies. "

"I know."

"Any new cases they were working on?"

I paused and thought. I typed it again. "I think my father was working on some case. A man was arrested for a crime, and he claimed he was innocent. But, I don't know the full details."

"And your brother?"

"I have no idea about him."

He said, "Where is the note your brother sent to you?"

I took out a small piece of paper and handed it to Bai Li. He carefully stroked his fingers on the paper, which I thought of as examining it in detail. It seemed as if he was feeling the texture.

"Cocoa."

The German Shepherd perked up his ears and immediately jumped from my lap. Cocoa went near him and nudged his leg.

I curiously looked at them.

Bai Li held out the paper, and Cocoa started to smell it.

Right! Dogs have a strong sense of smell.

He asked, "What is written in this letter?"

"I lose. Candy not out. Please open the last inner cubicle at e507 to get your reward."